DS may not be the most recognisable brand in the world but the Peugeot/Citroen sister company has strong ambitions to rival far more familiar names whose electric models have set the benchmark in the small SUV segment.
Special mention : Quickest car ever at defrosting the windscreen, never mind for an electric car, for any car. Cuts through congested traffic like a hot knife through butter, which means every journey is carried out without draining you of whatever ounce of energy you had left after work.
Needs work : Infotainment is a little too simple and limited. Range is 300 km and drops on motorway journeys. Rear space is a little tight. Additional plastic design on rear window blocks drivers view ‘over the shoulder’.
| BHP 136 HP | Electric / Auto |
| 0-100 km/h in 8.7 seconds | Road Tax €120 |
| Price: €38,811 | Boot space 350 / 1,050 litres Range 310 km |
Like other PSA brands DS has chosen to offer one model with multiple power trains. The DS3 Crossback is available as petrol, diesel or pure electric. The e-Tense badging signifies this is the electric version and with prices starting at just over €38,111 it stacks up against cars like the larger Kia e Nero and the budget MG ZS as well as potentially more expensive models from established premium brands. DS is to Peugeot & Citroen what Volkswagen is to Skoda. Sharing much of its mechanics with the Peugeot 2008 and Opel Corsa this is PSA with their small electric premium SUV. Does the DS offer enough in what is an extremely competitive and increasingly crowded part of the market with EV buyers seemingly more interested in technology and battery specs than fancy watch strap leather and premium badges.
Despite the fact that there are clearly similarities with other small SUVs, the DS3 Crossback presents its own unique style, the tapered roofline positioned almost coupe like in appearance or small details like the flush door handles and sharp lighting signature give it an upmarket edge. There is precious little to tell the e-Tense version apart from its petrol equivalents; the fuel filler cap is replaced by charge ports and there’s no blanked out grille like you’d find on some of this cars rivals.
Inside the layout is best described as quirky, there’s lots of sharp creases and sharp lines but in fact all the buttons do what you want them to do. They’re all touch sensitive but they’re not the most responsive. It’s easy to connect your phone via Apple carplay or Android auto which is great. There are a few things that feel like design for designs sake such as the window switches on the center console when they could be on the doors like most cars. When you look over your shoulder there’s a big block of black plastic obscuring visibility. The digital dials look great and all the information is presented in a really logical and easy to understand fashion. The seats are genuinely comfortable car seats, there’s just so much cushioning and without any real trade-off in support. And they take the edge off what it’s actually quite firm ride too.
Understandably it’s in town where the DS3 feels most at home. It’s not as quick as some EV’s but the instant acceleration associated with most electric cars is present and correct. The steering is light which makes the car feel nice and agile and despite the fact that the over shoulder visibility is limited, the door mirrors are a decent size. You’ll have to step up to the Prestige trim if you want a reversing camera though.
There’s just one 50 kilowatt hour battery to choose from and with 134 horsepower every version does 0-100 km/h in around nine seconds. It returns a range of around 300 km on the latest WLTP cycle. The DS will have a full charge in a little under eight hours via a seven kilowatt wall box while an 80% top-up can be achieved in thirty minutes using a hundred kilowatt public point. All cars come with a three pin plug and a cable for public charge points. Like many of its rivals there’s an app which allows you to monitor charging as well as set the cabin temperature ahead of time. Use the DS3’s power to its full potential and you will see that 300 km range suffer. We’ve been seeing about 250 to 300 km on a single charge and while that’s not quite as much as a Kia e-Nero or Hyundai Kona Electric it’s considerably more than you get from Honda E or a Mini Electric. The fuel benefits speak for themselves, you’ll be paying considerably less per month than your neighbor will be for a similarly sized petrol powered SUV.
Performance line gives the car a sportier look including unique 17” alloys, tinted windows and dark trim. These cars also get cruise control (hidden behind the steering wheel), front and rear parking sensors, keyless start and climate control. You will need to step up to Prestige for the 10” screen Sat-Nav but even entry-level models get Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Prestige cars get leather seats and a three year subscription to the DS range of connected services. It’s the Prestige that really steps things up though with bigger screen, a heads-up display, matrix LED lights, 18” wheels and the super comfy watch strap style leather seats. At almost €43,053 this flashy ultra Prestige model is starting to look a little bit expensive especially when you consider how good and how premium the latest Hyundai and Kia products appear to be. Spend just a few thousand Euro’s more and you’re looking at Tesla Model 3. The Tesla is a bigger and more practical car – as are the DS’s main rivals; the Kia e-Nero is bigger inside both in terms of backseat space and boot space. It makes more sense to compare this car to designer cars such as the Mini or the Honda e. With a 350 litre boot the DS loses nothing to its petrol and diesel counterparts when it comes to practicality and should be more than big enough for daily duties and a weekly trip to the shops.
The door bins while not huge are usefully positioned and there’s a handy cubby in between the front seats, the wireless charging pad is large but it ends up as a place to throw wallets keys and snacks especially if you’re connected to Apple Carplay or Android Auto by USB. Despite the limited top speed of 150 km it’s more than enough to happily cruise along on the motorway where this car is pretty confident and is quite refined.
The ride is good on rougher roads, the seats are fantastic and do absorb the worst of rougher roads. You wouldn’t describe the DS3 as sporty for a small SUV, it’s perfectly agile enough and while light, the steering is precise and direct. The DS3 has a selection of drive modes, the first and the most restrictive of those is the eco setting which gives you around 80 horsepower. It’s sufficient to go about your daily tasks and you’ll find there’s enough power to pootle around town and even on faster roads you’ll keep up with quicker traffic. The second setting is its normal mode where you get about 100 HP. The difference between 80 and 100 HP doesn’t feel all that stark, it’s when you flick it through to its sport setting where it gets the full 134 HP that it really starts to feel quite fast. In a car like this you could never really wish for anymore.
There are just two settings for the regenerative braking system. The first one is effectively a coasting mode so when you lift off the accelerator it completely acts as intended. The second is B mode, when you pull the gear lever towards you, you pop it into B mode, lift off and you can feel the car physically drawing itself to a stop and recapturing some of that energy which would otherwise be lost. It feels natural and easy to use, you quickly get used to it on the move. Refinement is excellent, even as the speed increases, the cabin is well insulated from the outside world.
Rolling on 18” wheels you really wouldn’t know it because the sidewalls of the tires are quite deep, apart from a little bit of wind noise, it’s really quiet in the cabin, even when you get up to 110 km/h and you spend some time on the motorway, it’s a very calming place to be.
The DS3 e-Tense is packed with quirky French charm. It’s priced on a par with rivals like the Kia e-Nero but arguably has more in common with style statements like the Mini electric. It’s good enough to drive and if you can live with its shortcomings, this new DS3 could save you thousands on your annual fuel bill.